Everyone cover your eyes I'm about to show my ignorance,are the glands you refer to the yellow sacks in the pic, kinda look like fat lumps in the groin. And how should they be preserved,I'm not a lure maker and don't expect to be in the near future but the more I can make/use from an animal the better,I don't have a problem with cutting out parts and freezing or drying or what not,just need to know how it's done and what pieces,I trap a bit of everything short of bobcats,pa has issues with that right now. But if I can make some extra and save you guys a few bucks I'm all for it, phil.

paredneck: The rat glands I get from trappers every season have either been frozen until shipment or preserved by layering them in salt.
Yes, the rat gland are the yellow sacks full of musk shown in the picture.

THANKS, Paul, Asa,Brian, Bob,Possum skinner, and you Ky Boy for your inmput and starting this thread. I'm enjoying this

Our rat gland pods are a tan color here it seems they may vary in color a bit from region to region. I dont recommend storing in salt. Salt is an astringent and will sear the glands and draw out some of the musk then when you go to use the glands you have to deal with removeing the excess salt with the brine and will lose some musk. I prefer frozen glands until use time.

Bob, Paul or Asa...have you noticed any difference (quality) between glands from different areas of the country?

Bob, are our rat glands anywhere CLOSE to being ready when the season is still in?

Thanks!

I've found then when using freezing as a way of preserving raw rat glands, freezer burn can be a problem if left in the freezer too long. They will turn an orangish color and won't be nearly as potent as when fresh.

I've been grinding them as I get them, and add a bit of glycerine before putting them in the freezer. I've found that this seems to inhibit freezer burn quite a bit. It will also keep the ground glands in a semi liquid state to make it easier to use right out of the freezer.